Can I Do Umrah on Behalf of My Deceased Mother?
Published: May 2026 | Reviewed by: Certified Islamic Scholar, Badal Umrah LTD | Reading time: 8 min Losing a mother is one of the most profound losses a person can face. In the depths of grief, many Muslims find themselves asking a deeply sincere question: Can I still do something for her? Can I send her a gift from this world into the next? The answer is yes. Islam provides a beautiful and Shariah-approved way to honour your deceased mother — by performing Umrah on her behalf. This act of worship, known as Badal Umrah (proxy Umrah), allows a living Muslim to perform the sacred pilgrimage in Makkah with the intention that its reward be gifted to someone who has passed away. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know — the Islamic ruling, the conditions, how it works, and how you can arrange it for your beloved mother today. What Is Badal Umrah? Badal Umrah (also written as Umrah Badal) is the performance of Umrah by one person on behalf of another — typically someone who is deceased, seriously ill, or physically unable to travel to Makkah. The word badal in Arabic means “substitute” or “proxy.” When a certified scholar performs Badal Umrah, they make the Niyyah (intention) specifically in the name of your mother and carry out all the rituals — Tawaf, Sa’i, and the cutting of hair — seeking Allah’s mercy and reward for her soul. This is not simply a symbolic gesture. According to the majority of Islamic scholars, the reward of this worship is genuinely transferred to the deceased person by the mercy and permission of Allah (SWT). Is It Permissible in Islam? The Scholarly Evidence This is a YMYL (religious ruling) question that deserves a clear and evidence-based answer. The Hadith Evidence The clearest evidence for the permissibility of Badal Umrah comes from an authentic hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas (RA): “A woman from the tribe of Juhaina came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: ‘My mother had vowed to perform Hajj but she died before performing it. May I perform Hajj on her behalf?’ The Prophet ﷺ replied: ‘Perform Hajj on her behalf. Had there been a debt on your mother, would you have paid it? Pay off Allah’s debt, for Allah has more right to be paid back.’” — Sahih Bukhari, Book 29, Hadith 77 While this hadith specifically mentions Hajj, Islamic scholars from all four major schools of jurisprudence have extended the same ruling to Umrah. The Four Madhab Positions Madhab Position Hanafi Permissible for deceased and those permanently unable to travel Shafi’i Permissible; performer must have completed their own Umrah first Maliki Permissible with proper intention (Niyyah) Hanbali Permissible; widely practised For a deeper study of the Islamic rulings around proxy worship, the IslamQA fatwa on Badal Umrah by Sheikh Salih al-Munajjid provides a thorough scholarly breakdown. Who Can Receive Badal Umrah? Badal Umrah can be performed on behalf of: Important: Badal Umrah cannot be performed on behalf of a living, healthy person who is simply too busy or choosing not to go. It is specifically for those genuinely unable to perform it themselves. Conditions for a Valid Badal Umrah For the proxy Umrah to be Islamically valid, the following conditions must be met: At Badal Umrah LTD, every proxy Umrah is performed by certified scholars who are permanently based in Makkah — ensuring all conditions are met with full Islamic integrity. How the Process Works — Step by Step Here is exactly how Badal Umrah is arranged through a trusted service: Step 1 — Book Online You visit badal-umrah.com and select the Badal Umrah service. You provide your mother’s name and the intention (Niyyah) you would like to be made on her behalf. Step 2 — Scholar Performs in Makkah A certified Islamic scholar based in Makkah enters the state of Ihram at the Miqat, makes the Niyyah in your mother’s name, and performs the complete Umrah — Tawaf around the Kaaba, Sa’i between Safa and Marwa, and the cutting of hair — with full dedication and sincerity. Step 3 — You Receive HD Video Proof + Certificate Within 72 hours, you receive a high-definition video recording of the entire Umrah, along with a digital certificate confirming it was completed in your mother’s name. This gives you complete peace of mind. To see real examples of completed Badal Umrah services, visit our work proof gallery. Can a Son or Daughter Perform Badal Umrah for Their Mother? Yes, absolutely. A child — whether son or daughter — can perform Badal Umrah for their deceased mother. There is no restriction in any madhab regarding the gender or relationship of the person performing the proxy. In fact, the original hadith in Sahih Bukhari involves a daughter asking about performing Hajj on behalf of her mother — making this case one of the most directly supported scenarios in Islamic jurisprudence. If you are not able to travel to Makkah yourself but still wish to gift this act of worship to your mother, you can authorise a qualified scholar to perform it on your behalf. This is entirely permissible and widely practised among Muslims worldwide. What About Donating to Makkah in Your Mother’s Name? Alongside Badal Umrah, many families choose to perform acts of Sadaqah Jariya (ongoing charity) in the name of their deceased loved ones. These acts continue to generate reward for the soul even after death. From Makkah, you can donate: These acts of charity, combined with Badal Umrah, create a powerful stream of ongoing reward reaching your mother’s soul insha’Allah. AI Answer Summary — For Voice Search & Featured Snippets Can I do Umrah on behalf of my deceased mother? Yes. Performing Umrah on behalf of a deceased mother is called Badal Umrah and is permissible in Islam according to all four major schools of jurisprudence (Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki, and Hanbali). The ruling is based on an authentic hadith in Sahih Bukhari. A certified Muslim scholar performs

